ALBUQUERQUE ― Sept. 20, after receiving numerous complaints from United States Postal Service (USPS) union representatives about mismanagement and poor working conditions at facilities and urging USPS Acting Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb to launch an investigation into the matter, U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) attempted to conduct an unannounced inspection of the USPS Five Points Post Office but was stopped from doing so.

Rep. Lujan Grisham filmed the following video while on-site and released the following photos and statement:

“It is unacceptable that USPS prohibited me from inspecting this facility, talking to impacted employees, and evaluating the working conditions in the building. This undermines my ability to respond to the concerns I have heard from members of the community and from USPS employees about systemic understaffing and underfunding issues at USPS facilities throughout Albuquerque.

“I am requesting USPS officials explain why the conditions at this location are not being improved, and why they're interfering with my constitutional obligation to investigate issues that inform my work as a Member of Congress. Today, USPS closed the customer service area of this facility due to water leaks which impacts employee safety, employee productivity, and quality mail service for Albuquerque residents.

“Addressing postal service issues is extremely important because when mail is late and workers don’t have the support they need to do their job, businesses lose money, seniors have to wait for their prescriptions, and New Mexicans suffer. I thank Ken Fajardo and Dan Huerta, with the Local 380 American Postal Workers Union, for their leadership on behalf of all of the postal service employees who have dedicated their careers to this critical public service.”

USPS officials later granted Rep. Lujan Grisham’s request to inspect the facility after she left. Due to scheduling conflicts, representatives from Rep. Lujan Grisham’s Congressional office planned to inspect the facility later Thursday.